Gnome More Mister Nice Guy

It's funny how your childhood memories of Christmas are magical, exciting, and full of colours and smells. On examining the family Christmas tree this afternoon, I came across this wee man who has apparently been hanging on the tree for about 55 years. When I was young, he was my favourite; I used to think he was very cute and would lie for ages under the tree swinging him on his little pine cone seat. I also remember the rows I got for making the needles drop with all the swinging.

As I'm old and decrepit now, I examined him with a more honest eye today. I realise he is not how I remember him - he is in fact pasty, tatty, quite ugly and with a bit of a squint eye and strange feet.

Still my favourite though.